During the 2010-11 season, Jeremy crafted a blog on who the Nashville Predators should target at the Trade Deadline. Today he gets one of his wishes as the Nashville Predators announce the signing of Niclas Bergfors to a one-year contract.
Bergfors brings an ability to score, posting 21 goals (split between two teams) in his rookie campaign. Nashville signing a player that can score, for an extremely affordable $575,000, continues to show that patience and persistence can produce a quality player at a cap-friendly price.
And here’s the release to make it official:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 3, 2011) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Niclas Bergfors to a one-year contract worth $575,000.
Bergfors, 24 (3/7/87), split the 2010-11 season between Atlanta and Florida, posting 36 points (12g-24a) in 72 games. During his first full NHL campaign with New Jersey and Atlanta in 2009-10, the Södertälje, Sweden native posted 21 goals and 44 points in 81 games, landing him a spot on the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. In 162 career NHL games since 2008, Bergfors has 81 points (34g-47a).
Drafted 23rd overall (first round) by the Devils in the 2005 Entry Draft, Bergfors was the youngest player in the American Hockey League in 2005-06 with the Albany River Rats after a decorated junior career in his homeland. The 5-10, 194-pound winger was the 2005 Swedish Junior Player of the Year, following the likes of Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Henrik Lunqvist, Peter Forsberg and Mats Sundin. He has also represented the Tre Kroner in five international tournaments, earning a bronze medal and being named to the tournament all-star team at the 2005 Under-18 World Championships.
—
PHOTO CREDIT: Bridget Samuels // CreativeCommons (used with permission)